The Inspectorate said in a press release on Monday that an inspector had visited the site on 22 June and determined that the number of buoys had increased to 90. It did not provide additional information as the investigation is ongoing.
On Saturday, public broadcaster TV Slovenija reported that the mussel farm had increased more than ten times in size since the first eight buoys were fixed at the site in April of last year.
The mussel farm is undoubtedly in Slovenian waters, the report said, adding that the mussel farm workers were accompanied by a Croatian police boat every time they are out on the water.
What is more, a Croatian police boat positioned itself between the camera crew and the mussel farm boat as the reporter tried to talk to the workers.
The Slovenian police was nearby while the report was being shot and approached immediately after the Croatian police came near the camera crew's boat.
The reporter, shown with the two police vessels close to each other just behind her, described the situation as very tense.
Slovenian officers told her that they had warned the Croatian police officers that they were in Slovenian waters but did not give any further statements.
Meanwhile, the Official Gazette of the Istria County said that Sargus, an Umag-based company, had been awarded a 20-year concession to grow mussels in the Bay of Piran on 10,000 square metres.
The border arbitration decision was announced just over a year ago, with the tribunal giving much of the Bay of Piran to Slovenia.
While Croatia refuses to recognise the decision, deeming it tainted by prohibited communication between a Slovenian agent and a Slovenian-appointed arbiter, Slovenia started enforcing the decision at the beginning of the year, especially at sea, where the course of the border has been clearly defined by the tribunal with coordinates.
